How does the Investment Model apply to non-monogamous relationships?

• A. In non-monogamous relationships, 'alternatives' represent additional relationships rather than substitutes.
• B. It is not applicable to non-monogamous relationships.
• C. It treats alternatives as only emotional connections.
• D. It equates alternatives with cheating.

Answer: (A)

The Investment Model centers on how commitment grows from three things: how rewarding the current relationship is, how much you’ve invested in it, and how attractive the other options or relationships are. In non‑monogamous contexts, alternatives aren’t viewed as mere substitutes to drop the current relationship; they are other relationships or connections you could pursue or maintain. This fits non‑monogamy because people often juggle multiple meaningful relationships, so the potential value of these other relationships affects how strongly you stay invested in any one relationship. The model thus weighs the rewards, costs, and investments of the present relationship against the appeal and feasibility of other possible connections, shaping your level of commitment accordingly. That’s why this interpretation—seeing alternatives as additional relationships rather than substitutes—best captures how the theory applies in non‑monogamous settings. The other statements distort the model’s flexibility, which allows for multiple relationships, doesn’t limit alternatives to emotional ties, and does not equate alternatives with cheating within negotiated arrangements.